Istanbul Governorship published regulations on school masjids, Eğitim-İş said that it violated violence and secularism
Quick Look
- Istanbul Governorship published detailed instructions regarding the use of school prayer rooms; He requested that the Friday prayer be performed by teachers of religious culture and ethics, that books and magazines from external sources should not be kept, and that the sermon of the Diyanet be read.
- Kadir Toruş, Head of Eğitim-İş Istanbul Branch No.
- 2, stated that giving these priorities only to the religious program and holding the meeting of school principals in a mosque violated the principle of secularism and was politicized.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Istanbul Governorship made a publication regarding the use of masjids in schools, demanding that Friday prayers be regulated, publications from external sources not be available, and sermons of official religious institutions be read. This regulation is an issue that comes to the fore regarding secularism and religious interactions in the education system.
Ignoring many problems, especially violence in schools and student meals, the government again gave priority to the religious program. Istanbul Governorship published detailed regulations regarding worship in mosques in schools.
In the article titled "Issues to be Considered in School Masjids" dated August 31, the Governorship asked for the masjids in schools to be meticulously arranged to allow for Friday prayers and for the sermons of the Presidency of Religious Affairs to be read. In addition, it was requested that no books, magazines, brochures or publications other than those published by the Ministry of National Education (MEB), the Presidency of Religious Affairs and the Turkish Religious Foundation be kept in school masjids.
It was stated that Friday prayers should be performed primarily by religious culture and ethics teachers working at the school, and if this is not possible, the personnel appointed by the relevant mufti should lead the prayers.
The letter was sent to the 39 district governorships in Istanbul and asked to be followed "meticulously".
'DIRECTORS AT THE MOSQUE'
Speaking to Cumhuriyet, Kadir Toruş, Head of Eğitim-İş Istanbul Branch No. 2, said, "It is meaningful and political that priority is given only to masjids and the meeting of school principals is held in the Grand Çamlıca Mosque. These steps, which damage the impartiality of public administration, completely contradict the principle of secularism guaranteed by our constitution."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Discussions regarding the use of school prayer rooms will continue and further legal or administrative regulations may come to the fore.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What kind of control mechanisms will be established to implement this regulation?
- Has there been a legal evaluation regarding holding the school principals' meeting in a mosque?
- To what extent will the rule of not keeping books and magazines from external sources be applied?
